Optical characterisation of the photolytic decomposition of ferrocene into nanoparticles

Abstract.

Optical emission from the photolytic dissociation of ferrocene Fe(C₅H₅)₂, often abbreviated as FeCp₂, in argon atmosphere was studied. The dissociation was performed by using an ArF excimer laser, operating at a wavelength of 193 nm. Two pressure regions were examined. At low (0.1 mbar) pressure, several emission lines of Fe could be identified, however no C, C₂, or CH emission lines/bands were found. At a higher (20 mbar) pressure of the FeCp₂/Ar gas mixture, a broadband emission identified as blackbody radiation was observed. This blackbody radiation originates from nanoparticles with a mean size of 30 nm, which consist of both metallic iron and amorphous carbon. The initial colour temperature of the particles was 2600 K.